Are you taking proton pump inhibitors for a long period and experiencing kidney-related problems from their prolonged use? You may be entitled to compensation under a proton pump inhibitor lawsuit if you have been wronged.
Read on to find out more about it.
What Is a Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI)?
A proton pump inhibitor is a class of medications usually prescribed to patients complaining about acidity. It helps in reducing the amount of acid in the stomach. It is also prescribed to treat conditions like stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, heartburn, erosive esophagitis, and related diseases.
PPI is sold over the counter as well as on prescription. Some of the most commonly sold PPI are Dexilant, Prilosec, Protonix, Prevacid, and Nexium.
It is also used as a medication for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, bacteria known for causing tumors in the pancreas or small intestine.
Side Effects To Look Out For
If you are taking any of the proton pump inhibitors, look out for potential minor and major symptoms:
Minor symptoms include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Joint pain
- Muscle weakness
- Constipation, deficiency of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B12
Major symptoms include:
- Kidney damage, kidney failure, or related kidney disease
- Acute interstitial nephritis, or AIN
- Dementia
- Heart disease
- Upper gastrointestinal cancer
- Risk of bone fracture
- Cardiovascular disease
When to File a PPI Lawsuit?
Any person who has been taking PPI as medication and has also been suffering from kidney diseases, kidney failure, and other chronic kidney diseases can file a PPI lawsuit.
The already pending proton pump inhibitor lawsuits include class-action lawsuits from plaintiffs who claim that the drug caused kidney damage, kidney failure, and other adverse side effects. They also claim that the manufacturers didn’t provide enough warning labels regarding the drug’s side effects. As a result, lawsuits demand compensation for medical expenses, pain, suffering, and loss.
Proton Pump Inhibitor Active Lawsuits
According to a study by Canadian scientists on around 300,000 people, people who took PPI were more than twice as likely to be affected by kidney and related diseases.
- In 2016, PPI users who filed six lawsuits demanded to consolidate all the kidney injury cases into single multidistrict litigation.
- A 2017 lawsuit by plaintiff Penelope alleged that after taking Prilosec (from AstraZeneca and Procter & Gamble) for many years, her kidney failed and required a kidney transplant. Another kidney transplant is likely to take place to avoid death.
- Another plaintiff brought forward in 2016 claimed that after taking Nexium (AstraZeneca’s drug) from 2002 to 2012, and was diagnosed with kidney failure in 20212. It was in the year 2016. She comes across the dangers of taking the medication. She alleged that the company failed to display the warning labels clearly, and they were inaccurate and unclear.
- In the year 2011, there was also a lawsuit filed against AstraZeneca for Nexium PPI that led to bone fractures.
Several other similar cases have been filed continually for PPI manufacturers like Takeda Pharmaceuticals (for Dexilant and Prevacid), AstraZeneca (Nexium and Prilosec), Procter & Gamble (for Prilosec), and Pfizer (for Protonix).
The Link Between PPI and Related Kidney Diseases
A Journal of the American Medical Association study published in 2016 found out that intaking PPIs increase the chances of suffering from chronic kidney disease to about 20 to 50%.
This risk is higher for individuals above 65+.
In 2019, the British Medical Journal conducted a study that concluded that PPI intake could lead to a “small excess of cause-specific to mortality including death due to cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and upper gastrointestinal cancer.”
This organization concluded that it is not certain that all those who take PPI could cause them kidney failure or chronic kidney diseases. However, there is a small risk associated with the same.
The Result of PPI Lawsuits
- AstraZeneca in the year 2015 paid $7.9 million to the U.S. government to resolve the allegation against its PPI drug, Nexium.
- Pfizer paid $839 million for two settlements against its PPI drug, Protonix.
- A class action that lasted for ten years against AstraZeneca made the company compensate them with $20 million (for its PPI drug Nexium and Prilosec)
If you or someone you know are continually taking any above-mentioned PPI drug for a long time and are suffering from a kidney-related disease, it is recommended to consult a class-action lawsuit attorney to claim the compensation you may be entitled to.
To learn more about the proton pump inhibitor lawsuit and seek any related help, contact our expert attorneys today.
